BAD Santa’s Little Helpers were given ASBOs for Christmas by a District Judge.

Bernard McCartney and Julie Ann Byrne are drinking partners of John Brown, dubbed “Bad Santa” by shoppers in Bootle.

McCartney, 39, of Leece Street YMCA, and Byrne, 39, of Peel Road, Bootle, were both handed three year anti-social behaviour orders by District Judge Michael Ableson at Bootle magistrates yesterday.

The ASBOs ban them from The Strand, begging on the street, carrying open bottles of booze and behaving in an abusive manner.

In October Brown, 50, was slapped with a similar order banning him from the Bootle shopping complex.

He was told to stay out of the area for four years after being dealt with by the police 29 times in 15 months.

Sentencing McCartney, Judge Ableson said: “You are the scourge of this area.

“What I think is so despicable about your behaviour is not just the spitting and swearing you indulge in, but that young children see a grown man behaving in an appalling, disgusting manner.

“The courts will stand no more nonsense form you, this order is a draconian order - it has teeth.”

When McCartney protested that he was being victimised by police, Judge Ableson told him: “It’s hardly surprising that the police are all over you like a rash when you have spent your life harassing and abusing decent members of the public.”

Dealing with Byrne, Judge Ableson said: “The public are sick and tired of these incidents – you need to get help with the drinking.”

He added: “Hopefully the public will get a well deserved break from this disgraceful behaviour.”

Welcoming the court ruling Bootle Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Burnham said: “I want to thank the residents and businesses for their support in collating evidence in this case.”